1984 NHRA Gatornationals Full Broadcast

[@CRAZYWHITEBOY87]

Good clean racing,packed event times were simple in them days. Which them days are long gone

[@559043]

awesome looking cars .... all of em

[@jimbro650]

Awesome coverage, because I missed that race Thank you. 🇺🇸🗽🙏

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Really enjoyed!!!! 🏁🏁

[@geomodelrailroader]

nothing like watching one of the wins of Old John Force at Gatornationals 84 and Cha Cha in her prime any race that has Old John Force or Cha Cha will be good.

[@MarkMeadows90]

Wish I was around during this era of great and simple drag racing. I've been to a few NHRA events in the early to mid 2000s, but it was nothing compared to this time period!

[@andrewkindle1856]

I was actually at this very event. The thing that has been lost from those days, is the innovation. I got to see a lot of changes back then like that tall Wing Joe Amato is sporting right here, or when Don Garlits came out with the Streamliner. I was there for that weekend too it was at the gatornationals a few years after this and he broke the 270 mph barrier, 272 mph to be exact. By the mid-90s when I was also there to see Kenny Bernstein break 300 mph. all the cars were basically the same and the rules started to say that they have to stay the same. Now a days if somebody has an idea for a change to the car, they have to get it approved by NHRA before using it, and I'm pretty sure they also have to make the idea available to any other team. (Poor Bob Glidden would be spinning in his grave) lol. So from now on the only Innovation we will see now is with the tuning. Clutch and fuel management systems for the most part. The crazy days of innovators like Don Garlits and Jim head coming out with new futuristic-looking race cars are gone. Don't get me wrong it's still the most exciting and exhilarating thing to see live. But it does feel like there's something missing from those days seeing visible changes in the technology.

[@MarkMeadows90]

@@andrewkindle1856 great information. I know safety is a big factor in NHRA nowadays. No more full 1/4 mile drag races with top fuel and funny car.

[@Calvin-xp4qp]

NHRA throwing in a Fleetwood Mac riff to boot, nice! -40 years later, nothing beats the smell and sound of Top Fuel racing. Looking forward to 2024!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree!

[@andreamichellelopez5600]

I can’t live it out. In SONOMA & I missed who he was on the back of John Force SCOOTER headed back to the pits & “maybe when I get a little more famous” Said Kenny Bernstein 🚘💯& booohooo😢that AUTOGRAPH woulda been priceless now it’s I am a horses ass😂RED LIGHT

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

Nitro Funny Car And Top Fuel Went To Top Speed 260 Mph NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series In 1984

[@TheRoguelement]

As far back as I can remember Don Garlits was the Tightest ass penny pincher in racing always complaining about parts & the cost . .. Yet all he had to do was allow some corporate sponsorship come on board and he could have put the car first and cash second or last ..but he wanted to do it all his way and did not want to have to be doing Burger joint openings Or car dealer commercials Or aftershave commercials ..Because for those big corporate bucks comes the responsibility to them ..I guess .. But cash was always always Dons problem ...

[@edgarbeat2851]

It is said he wasn't willing to blow up engines. Joe Amato would blow up many engines and superchargers to reach a performance goal elapsed time or top speed. 84 all teams seamed to hit Supercharger issues Shirley, Beck etc. Funny cars went thru another rash late 80s early 90s. Garlets seemed to disappear by 87 I think he wasn't will to blow up stuff like shirly or Amato, but conservative racing, what you typed, also adds to that. If you watch the 85 to 87 years Darrel and Amato would regularly be pushing hard leafing to breakages to Garlets advantage. You can't race like that forever. Amato La Heigh Darrel certainly set elapsed times and tops speeds past 170mph. Controversial I don't think he was as clever as Tim Richards, Armstrong or Ken Veny. With regards to solving the engine explosions. Fueling and spark resonance issues. Wish a crew chef would explain that Austin Coil touched on it. To solve it you'd have to blow up quite a few and I don't think Garlets was willing also in part to his upbringing. As a Scots man I do totally get Garlets being carful and wanting controll of his money etc. I grew up being told to save etc and it still effects me on what I do etc. I think Garlets did appear on a Goodyear tyres advert. Along with various racing drivers from other forms of motorsports.